The cartalk.com TIME KILL WEEKLY Special Auto-Medical Edition ______________________________________________ Killing Time, Unencumbered by the Work Process ______________________________________________ Maury Maille, Editor
What's new at Car Talk Plaza? Two things: First, there's news for those of you with car questions, and (b) a question for those of you with medical backgrounds. For the broken "car-ted" we have a new service. It's called: "Ask Someone Smarter Than Us: The Car Talk Instant Answer Service." To check it out, see http://www.wondir.com/partners/CarTalk We think it's got potential. It's faster than a traditional BBS, offers instant messaging, Q&A, and also returns information from a number of additional on-line sources. It could be just the ticket for simple answers to your automotive conundrum. In a week or two, we'll launch it via the Car Talk web site, and then the radio show. In the meantime, we're looking for Car Talk visitors to sign up and help answer questions that come in from other visitors. So, if you're looking for an excuse to kill a few minutes and are feeling generous with your automotive advice, give it a try. (Don't forget to let us know what you think-e-mail us anytime via http://www.cartalk.com/email/email.html.) Now, for you medics out there. We've been told we have a huge following among doctors, nurses, technicians, etc. And not just proctologists trying to find our heads. So the folks at the Shameless Commerce Division asked us if we'd want a Car Talk "medical device" of some kind. And we came up with the idea of a Car Talk "scrub" shirt. Does that make sense? Are there other, better medical items we could offer at our Shameless Commerce Division? A Car Talk MRI? Stethoscope warmer? Let us know your thoughts. And what should it say? *"Don't worry... I only get my CAR advice from Car Talk." *"When I'm not listening to patients, I'm listening to Car Talk." *"I don't use anesthesia-- Car Talk works better." *"Car Talk Hospital: Transmission Surgery Unit" You tell us. You can e-mail us your suggestions from the Car Talk web site at http://www.cartalk.com/email/email.html And, if you're pals with any medical types who listen to our show, pass this note along, and maybe they'll have ideas of their own. Thanks. Finally, two quick reminders from Car Talk Plaza: ****Father's Day is just around the corner. Show dad you're still nursing grudges against the old man, by giving him some of our junk, including our special father's CD, "Why You Should Never Listen to Your Father When It Comes to Cars" or our Car Talk silk necktie. You can get info on both, and lots more, by clicking on the Shameless Commerce link at http://www.cartalk.com ***Our new Car Talk Car Survey is now launched and running. Ever wonder what real people think about their cars-- not just the industry flaks at Car and Drivel, or Road and Breakdown Lane? Your wish is our command! Check it out: http://cartalk.com/content/survey/lookup.html So what are you waiting for? Take the survey and let us know what you think. And thanks. Now, the most important matter at hand: Does anyone know how to stop the rain that's been pummeling Our Fair City for the last month? The last we saw Tommy, he was herding animals, two by two, into his MG. Maury Maille Chief Office Bailer Car Talk Plaza P.S. Here's this week's Lame Joke Of The Week, courtesy of Wayne Van Zomeren: A big corporation recently hired several cannibals. "You are all part of our team now," said the HR rep during the welcoming briefing. "You get all the usual benefits and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat, but please don't eat any of the other employees." The cannibals promised they would not. Four weeks later their boss remarked, "You're all working very hard, and I'm satisfied with you. However, one of our secretaries has disappeared. Do any of you know what happened to her?" The cannibals all shook their heads "NO." After the boss had left, the leader of the cannibals said to the others, "Which one of you idiots ate the secretary?" A hand rose hesitantly, to which the leader of the cannibals continued, "You fool!!! For four weeks we've been eating managers and no one noticed anything, but noooooo, you had to go and eat someone who actually does something!" **************** Write Tom and Ray -- Please! Been meaning to write us a witty, genius, evocative, insightful letter? No? All right, forget genius then. How about sending us something funny we could read on the air? Write Tom and Ray right now at http://www.cartalk.com/email/email.html *************** Useful information alert: How to Get a Free Car Talk CD or Car Talk Booklet Tired of paying auto club dues to an outfit that lobbies against environmental causes? Check out Better World Club-and in the process get a Car Talk booklet for free! Better World is an auto club with genuinely decent values-- unlike some others we could name... Whose initials happen to be AAA. Better World Club cares about... *Your environmental interests -- it gives 1% of its revenue to environmental clean up and advocacy. *Your consumer interests -- it even offers discounts on hybrid rental cars. *And it has the nation's only bicycle roadside assistance program. Dump your AAA membership and join Better World! If you join via the Car Talk web site now, you'll get a free Car Talk CD, or a copy of our booklet, 10 Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car without Even Knowing It. Check out Better World Club now at http://www.cartalk.com ******************** Got more time to kill? This past weekend's new, lousy Car Talk show is now on the web site, at http://www.cartalk.com/Radio/Show/ ******************** Miss the puzzler? Losing sleep over it? Add your e-mail to our Car Talk Puzzler Psychic Friends Network and we'll personally hand deliver Ray's new puzzler to your inbox every Monday. http://www.cartalk.com/ct/maillist.jsp?puzzler_list=subscribe#psychic ******************* Embarrassed by having e-mails from Car Talk in your inbox? Can't say that we blame you. Unsubscribe any time, via http://www.cartalk.com/ct/maillist.jsp?mailing_list=subscribe If you join via the Car Talk web site now, you'll get a free Car Talk CD, or a copy of our booklet, 10 Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car without Even Knowing It. Check out Better World Club now at Http://www.cartalk.com ******************** Got more time to kill? This past weekend's new, lousy Car Talk show is now on the web site, at http://www.cartalk.com/Radio/Show/ ******************** Miss the puzzler? Losing sleep over it? Add your e-mail to our Car Talk Puzzler Psychic Friends Network and we'll personally hand deliver Ray's new puzzler to your inbox every Monday. http://www.cartalk.com/ct/maillist.jsp?puzzler_list=subscribe#psychic ******************* Embarrassed by having e-mails from Car Talk in your inbox? Can't say that we blame you. Unsubscribe any time, via http://www.cartalk.com/ct/maillist.jsp?mailing_list=subscribe
